Floor-board for automobiles



L. A. YOUNG.

FLOOR BOARD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 10. 1919.

1 348 1 Patented June 8, 1920.

ltd

' tnonann a. rooms, or HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

'FLOQBBOARD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 192th Application filed February 10. 1919. Serial No. 276.228.

This invention relates to floor boards for automobiles and to an arrangement and construction thereof whereby strength'is combined with lightness, rapping and checking are obviated and the desired conformation is obtained without exposing any unfinished marginal portions.

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The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and (more particularly} pointed out in the appended claims.

Tn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the underside of a floor board that embodies features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudlnal section therethrough Fig. 3 is a View in detail showing application of a marginal binding strip;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing modification or the body of the floor board;

Fig. 5 is a View in section and in detall showing a batten strip fully expanded;

Fig. 6 is a view in detail showing the method of application of the batten strip; and

Fig. 7 is a view in detail of a modified batten strip.

As herein shown in preferred form, a floor board or the desired dimensions and contour is formed of a series of pieces 1 that are each provided with transverse dovetail slots 2, having the usual bevel or undercut sides.

A. laterally expansible batten strip is provided for each dovetail groove, and is preferably formed with a transverselycrowned web 3 and marginal flanges or beads 4: that are arranged to receive and close over the sharp angled margins of the pieces 1 along the grooves 2. Each batten strip is dimensioned for ready insertion in one of the grooves 2 before expansion and is likewise arranged so that when flattened into thegroove as indicated in Fig. 6, it firmly engages under the dovetailed edges while the marginal flanges 4. are rolled down fiat and act as shields over the dovetailed edges, thoroughly protecting and shielding them from splintering or checking ofi. A sheet metal strip 5 is secured along each margin of the assembled floor board, the strip having inturned flanges 6 that grip the floor board between-them. This strip may be bent to follow any curve to the floor board, if it has rounded or irregular, contour.

A floor covering 7 of linoleum or like sheet material may be incorporated in the structure in which instance, as indicated in Fig. 4:, the binding strip 5 secures such sheet in place.

The batten strip may be longitudinally grooved if it is desired to stiffen the structure for heavy use; such construction is in dicated in Fig. 7 wherein a strip having marginal flanges or beads 8 is folded on itself longitudinally throughout the transversely crowned web 9 to provide a rib 10 that is of suiiicient depth to give the desired stiffness.

In addition to the complete shielding of the edges of the boardby the metal binding, which is likewise ornamental in appearance, the batten strips protect the dovetailed margins of their respective slots and give a good finish to the structure, the whole being fully protected from any splitting or checking, along the places where such action might otherwise occur.

Obviously changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and it do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. A floor board for automobiles comprising pieces of sheet material provided with transverse slots having undercut margins and with dovetail outer marginal portions, sheet metal strips having inturned marginal flanges that extend around and grip the dove tailed marginal portions of the assembled pieces and battens of sheet material provided with lateral flanges that engage under the under cut margins of the transverse slots and that overlie and inclose the outer edges thereof.

2. A door board for automobiles comprising pieces of sheet material having transversely disposed, registering slots with undercut marglns and marglnal portions that' are dovetail in section, sheet metal battens in the slots, each having marginal longitudinal flanges and an initially crowned web flattened and expanded into the undercut marginal portions of the slots and the flanges of the battens being adapted to) bend around and envelop the outer edges of the slots, and marginal strips of sheet ma- 10 terial flanged to embrace and interlock with the dovetail margins of the pieces.

LEONARD A. YOUNG. 

